Three 2026 Texas Longhorns opponents finally name starting QBs

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There have been three big unknowns in the Texas Longhorns 2026 schedule. Three opponents have had ongoing quarterback battles in Fall camp. But now the Tennessee Volunteers, Arkansas Razorbacks and Florida Gators have all settled on who will begin the season under center.

With the start of the 2026 season less than two weeks away, Texas defensive coordinator Will Muschamp and his staff now can start gathering info and intel on the new signal callers as the Longhorns inch towards facing all three opponents. Florida and Arkansas have gone with the more veteran option, while the Vols have named a true freshman.

Sept. 26: Tennessee Volunteers name Faizon Brandon QB

Sources: Tennessee has named true freshman Faizon Brandon the starting quarterback, and he’ll debut for the Vols against Furman on Sept. 5. (Tennessee travels to Georgia Tech the next week.) Brandon is a former Top 10 overall recruit and five-star. pic.twitter.com/GbGgtfQt8b

— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) August 24, 2026

The first of the three opponents on the Texas schedule is Tennessee. Vols coach Josh Heupel has gone with the younger option. True freshman early enrollee Faizon Brandon beat out sophomore George MacIntyre. Heupel made the decision after watching tape from Saturday's Vols scrimmage.

"Throughout the course of the last week since scrimmage one, I thought they did a really good job taking care of the football, handling decision making, controlling what we're doing offensively," Heupel said this weekend. "Today, there were some real positives, some things that they're going to learn from too, so excited to go back and watch the tape here with them."

Oct. 17: Florida Gators name Aaron Philo QB

New Florida coach Jon Sumrall named Georgia Tech transfer Aaron Philo the Gators' starting quarterback on Monday. Philo was in a tightly contested competition with redshirt freshman Tramell Jones Jr.

Philo followed new offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner from Georgia Tech go Gainesville this offseason. The 6-foot-1-inch, 208-pound, Bogart, Georgia, native separated himself from Jones thanks to a familiarity with Faulkner's system.

At Georgia Tech, Philo appeared in five games as a freshman, throwing for 565 yards and one touchdown while adding 76 yards on the ground to go along with one rushing TD.

Nov. 21: Arkansas Razorbacks name KJ Jackson QB

Junior KJ Jackson and sophomore AJ Hill have had a close battle this fall, but new Arkansas coach Ryan Silverfield has decided Jackson will be the starter. Hill transferred from Memphis to Arkansas when Silverfield and staff moved from the Tigers to the Razorbacks in January.

Jackson completed 33 of 54 passes for 441 yards, with 3 touchdowns and no interceptions playing in five games last season behind starter Taylen Green. After completing 16 of 29 passes for 206 yards and leading two touchdown drives in the fourth quarter of a 52-37 loss at Texas on Nov. 22, Jackson started the season finale.

“I think the battle definitely made me a better player,” Jackson said Sunday night. “At the end of the day, I had to show up and come to work because AJ, all the quarterbacks in the room, are great players.”

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This article originally appeared on Longhorns Wire: Three 2026 Texas Longhorns opponents finally name starting QBs

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